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Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Blouse is Done!!!

Lace on the sleeves, down the front and as trim along the bottom.

This shirt, as you probably know, has been taking a long time. It cost me much brain power and gave me a very wounded finger. Actually, finger aside, it was a pretty pleasant project to work on. I took my time got great advice my sewing friends and came up with a decent shirt to wear.

There is lace along the back but you can't see it very good.Also this is my "Edwardian" hair

I live in great fear that all shirts I make look like pajamas. I guess I'm just drawn to that light and girly fabric that seems only appropriate for pajamas in women. This top was no exception and I think if it had matching pants (which it won't there is no more fabric or lace) it would definitely look like a swanky pair of lounge wear.

What it was suppose to be, however, was something completely different. This blouse started it's life out as a super soft, light, cotton, japanese fabric that I fell in love with. Then it became an Easter dress that I made using a vintage pattern. I hate the dress. Old patterns assume you know what your doing and when I made this dress I had no idea what I was doing. I mean any kind of skill you practice means your going to get better which makes this dress just... blech. But I still love the fabric. So I thought, "it's an entire dress why not make it into a shirt? Surely there is enough fabric." Well, there really wasn't but I made it work!

The lace is so cool I wish you could see it better.

I had in mind a cross between a light girl inspired summer top that would breath and be a joy to wear. And something inspired by "Downtown Abbey". To be honest I've never actually seen "Downtown Abbey". But literally all the sewing blogs I read go on and on about it so I totally do feel like a fan of it. I'm like a collateral fan? It's in my netflix queue I just haven't gotten around to watching it yet. I did however see and love an episode of "Dr. Who" that took place in that same time era and am a big fan of "Anne of Green Gables" and "The Secret Garden", so you get the idea. Edwardian period clothing.

I used vintage lace and vintage buttons both picked up during an antique/junking trip with my mommy. I lowered the neckline from the original pattern (the sorbetto top, I've made it three times now) added sleeves and had to piece together the front and back instead of cutting it on the fold.

I'm not 100% pleased with it. I mean when am I ever? I know it's flaws and it's more flower child then "Anne with an E" but I think it will be a pleasant enough top to wear this summer.

What do you think? Honestly if you just think that it's too pajamas I want to know! But if you think it's wearable I'd like to know that too.